I'm even more impressed with this Washburn after reading about them. I assumed that it had a solid spruce top and laminated back and sides but, apparently it isn't a laminate. It's mahogany. For around $300.00 new? Best bang for the buck since Larrivee made 01's. I'm going to keep my eye out for a 6 string version.

Nice tune, Tom, and I like the accompaniment. And you went from Gitche Gumee to Zuider Zee... my daughter recently lived on Zuider Zee Drive in Orange City, IA - a very Dutch community and also where she graduated from (Northwestern) College (a very Dutch/Reformed Church school). (Full disclosure - I'm half Dutch - my mom's maiden name was Zylstra - but I've never been to the Netherlands.)

Nice tune, Tom, and I like the accompaniment. And you went from Gitche Gumee to Zuider Zee... my daughter recently lived on Zuider Zee Drive in Orange City, IA - a very Dutch community and also where she graduated from (Northwestern) College (a very Dutch/Reformed Church school). (Full disclosure - I'm half Dutch - my mom's maiden name was Zylstra - but I've never been to the Netherlands.)

Thanks. I've never been to the Netherlands either. Several years back I ran into an old friend and wonderful guitar player, Terry Erickson aka Doc Tibbles, (who is mentioned in Neil Young's autobiography) and he told me that a song off his new CD was hot in Amsterdam and he was going there in April to do some shows. I told him I'd write him a song for the occasion. I wrote it from Doc's POV, slipping in "picking out Candyman" one of his favorite tunes. Funny thing is, the thing fell through and Doc never went to Amsterdam and never learned the tune. I thought I might as well keep it.

Thanks. I've never been to the Netherlands either. Several years back I ran into an old friend and wonderful guitar player, Terry Erickson aka Doc Tibbles, (who is mentioned in Neil Young's autobiography) and he told me that a song off his new CD was hot in Amsterdam and he was going there in April to do some shows. I told him I'd write him a song for the occasion. I wrote it from Doc's POV, slipping in "picking out Candyman" one of his favorite tunes. Funny thing is, the thing fell through and Doc never went to Amsterdam and never learned the tune. I thought I might as well keep it.

Walkerman and Walkerwoman will be in he Netherlands in three days. As for twelve strings .... required for the music I grew up with

Thanks. I've never been to the Netherlands either. Several years back I ran into an old friend and wonderful guitar player, Terry Erickson aka Doc Tibbles, (who is mentioned in Neil Young's autobiography) and he told me that a song off his new CD was hot in Amsterdam and he was going there in April to do some shows. I told him I'd write him a song for the occasion. I wrote it from Doc's POV, slipping in "picking out Candyman" one of his favorite tunes. Funny thing is, the thing fell through and Doc never went to Amsterdam and never learned the tune. I thought I might as well keep it.

So maybe this is how some of the best songs get written... in anticipation of what someone else might do... or not.

Based on personal experience, I would not buy an inexpensive 12 string without careful consideration and I think it pays to spend a little extra money to purchase quality. 12 string necks are tricky and it takes a while to find the right one that is both playable and stays in tune.

When I started playing, a lot of people influenced me. John Denver played a Guild 12 string, switched to a Yamaha and ended up with a Taylor while Gordon Lightfoot played a Gibson B-45 and he still has two of them. One capoed at the third fret in dropped D. Leo Kottke started with a Gibson, switched to a Martin, then a Bozo and finally a Taylor signature model.

My first 12 string was an Ovation Pacemaker that was a factory second and it was the only guitar I ever sold. It took me a long time to decide on another 12 string and it came down to a Taylor or a Larrivee. I wanted something special so I added a cutaway and a mahogany top along with a bone nut/saddle. I just played it for 45 minutes tonight. This guitar handles strumming and finger picking easily and the mahogany top reduces the jangle while maintaining the full sound of all 12 strings. The Larrivee L Body is the perfect shape for a 12 string from my perspective and at some point, I would like to pick up the same guitar with a flamed or quilted maple back and sides.

Based on personal experience, I would not buy an inexpensive 12 string without careful consideration and I think it pays to spend a little extra money to purchase quality. 12 string necks are tricky and it takes a while to find the right one that is both playable and stays in tune.

When I started playing, a lot of people influenced me. John Denver played a Guild 12 string, switched to a Yamaha and ended up with a Taylor while Gordon Lightfoot played a Gibson B-45 and he still has two of them. One capoed at the third fret in dropped D. Leo Kottke started with a Gibson, switched to a Martin, then a Bozo and finally a Taylor signature model.

My first 12 string was an Ovation Pacemaker that was a factory second and it was the only guitar I ever sold. It took me a long time to decide on another 12 string and it came down to a Taylor or a Larrivee. I wanted something special so I added a cutaway and a mahogany top along with a bone nut/saddle. I just played it for 45 minutes tonight. This guitar handles strumming and finger picking easily and the mahogany top reduces the jangle while maintaining the full sound of all 12 strings. The Larrivee L Body is the perfect shape for a 12 string from my perspective and at some point, I would like to pick up the same guitar with a flamed or quilted maple back and sides.

I fully realize it's a complete package... the way each component adds up to make a composite instrument, but I have long said, if someone could meld a Taylor 12 string neck and a Guild 12 string jumbo body, you'd end up with the ultimate 12 string.

That said, after listening to people play Martin, Guild, Taylor, Gibson, Ovation, Yamaha, Larrivee, and just about every other brand out there and sound amazing, practice and dedication outdoes brand every time.

My first 12 string was an Ovation Pacemaker that was a factory second and it was the only guitar I ever sold. It took me a long time to decide on another 12 string and it came down to a Taylor or a Larrivee. I wanted something special so I added a cutaway and a mahogany top along with a bone nut/saddle.

It would have to be special to sit in with those Martin's you have! Nice little collection of acoustics! Would love to see a few pictures of that custom 000 with the 3-piece mahogany back... you could start a new thread for that if you don't want to sidetrack this 12-string topic...

Based on personal experience, I would not buy an inexpensive 12 string without careful consideration and I think it pays to spend a little extra money to purchase quality. 12 string necks are tricky and it takes a while to find the right one that is both playable and stays in tune.

When I started playing, a lot of people influenced me. John Denver played a Guild 12 string, switched to a Yamaha and ended up with a Taylor while Gordon Lightfoot played a Gibson B-45 and he still has two of them. One capoed at the third fret in dropped D. Leo Kottke started with a Gibson, switched to a Martin, then a Bozo and finally a Taylor signature model.

My first 12 string was an Ovation Pacemaker that was a factory second and it was the only guitar I ever sold. It took me a long time to decide on another 12 string and it came down to a Taylor or a Larrivee. I wanted something special so I added a cutaway and a mahogany top along with a bone nut/saddle. I just played it for 45 minutes tonight. This guitar handles strumming and finger picking easily and the mahogany top reduces the jangle while maintaining the full sound of all 12 strings. The Larrivee L Body is the perfect shape for a 12 string from my perspective and at some point, I would like to pick up the same guitar with a flamed or quilted maple back and sides.

Based on my own experience, if you want a nice 12 string and can find one, the Washburn D-10S-12 is an excellent choice and, like some continue to say about Larrivees, is a lot of bang for the buck.

While I'd love a Larrivee 12, I just don't play enough 12 string to warrant buying one. Presently, I own a very decent Washburn that I bought used for $200,00 and a really nice Yamaha Pacifica electric 12 string that I really like. Any thoughts on 12 strings?

Two years ago my mother bought me an inexpensive Epiphone Texan FT-160N 12 string that still is in dire need of repair. Even though the neck is a bolt on, it is more like an electric guitar in design at the neck joint and after doing some research I found that these models really suffered greatly for it.

Nowadays I admit that I do lust for a Taylor 12 string. Others have commented on Taylors being "jangly" but I submit that they should try the new Grand Auditorium in a 12 string. I am haunted by the 458e, but it's around $2K and I can't justify spending more than $1000 on ANY guitar. Thus the 254ce DLX is more my speed - even if the back and sides are "layered."

I have always owned a 12 string or three at time's.Right now I have a Seagul S12 that we use in the duo.Its played on 3 or 4 tune's.Having a 12 string can add some nice colour but can also be played waaaaay toooo much.I know a solo player that only plays 12 string which could be alrite but he mostly plays the higher strings for some unknown reason which keeps me from going to his gigs as I might have to hurt him with his guitar.Kottke played both 6 and 12 string guitars as have many players.If the Washburn does the job for you there is no reason to buy another,with that said if I every have any extra money I would love to own an OM03/12 again just for my own use as I love playing a 12 string in open tunings.

Rob, I'm with you on the OM-03/12. Wonder why they aren't made anymore; Taylor just came out with the 562ce (small body-12 string). And I just read they have a short scale 352/362ce also which is a little lower in price point (just introduced at Nashville NAMM).